Rote Learning [Common Meter]

Words memorized rote are a meal
wholly undigested,
That's why memorization is
utterly detested.

Rote learning is, somehow, bloating
and yet never filling.
One takes it all in by way of 
monotonous drilling,
but while you're still filling your cup
you're already spilling.
You pass your test and purge it all.
It's so unfulfilling. 

If I may, please let me suggest
that here's what you should do:
get the gist, play with it, and find
out what it means to you.

Orbweaver [Tanka]

in certain light,
the spider floats on air;
move slightly,
and now it sits on a 
lustrous wall of web

Grazing Buffalo [Haiku]

buffalo graze
beside the river
with aimless purpose

Mophead Hydrangea [Haiku]

hydrangeas
bloom in dense clusters,
feuding to open

Across the Chasm [Haiku]

tree at the fore;
cascades across the chasm,
and my eye wanders

Orchid [Haiku]

an earth tone orchid
spits out a tongue of purple,
bucking disguise

Desert Dunes [Haiku]

sand dunes 
textured with snaky furrows:
dunes upon dunes

Copperhead [Common Meter]

I walked along a well-worn trail
with no intent but rest.
I wished to be soothed by the trees,
but found myself distressed.

For in my path rested a snake,
known as the copperhead --
 a breed that has inspired wonder
and no uncertain dread. 

I gave the snake full attention,
and then gave it wide berth,
but it must have been far too wide
for I walked right off the earth.

Deep Trail [Haiku]

the early trail
is bare and well-defined; 
the deep trail hides

98.6 [Free Verse]

The secret is...

we're energy machines.

This wild ride we're on is all about
staying 98.6.

The meaning of life
might as well be 98.6.

You work to make rent 
to be sheltered at 98.6.

You go to the store for groceries
to stoke the fires of 98.6.

You put on your coat or slippers
to keep yourself at 98.6.

You go to the beach
to warm to 98.6
&
then sweat to drop
back to 98.6.

You take medicines when you're too
far off the mark of 98.6.

You turn on the AC 
to sleep at 98.6
& 
kick off the covers
&
drag the covers back
& 
adjust the AC...
all to sleep at 98.6.

You may wish to be a flash fire
of a million degrees,
but life leaves you at 98.6.

Some day you'll cool off
and your career as
Thermoregulatory Maintenance
Specialist 
will be at an end
& 
you'll be done with
the trouble of staying 98.6.